Sydney FC have denied newspaper claims that marquee man Brett Emerton dived during last weekend’s 2-3 loss to Central Coast Mariners.
Sydney FC have denied newspaper claims that marquee man Brett Emerton dived during last weekend’s 2-3 loss to Central Coast Mariners.
Emerton went down following a challenge from Mariners substitute Adrian Pellegrino in the 87th minute with referee Strebre Delovski awarding a free kick, from which Emerton scored his spectacular first goal for the Sky Blues.
But following a claim in the media that Emerton might have simulated a foul to win the free kick, Sydney FC CEO Dirk Melton hit back in support of the Qantas Socceroo.
“After the issue was raised in a Sydney newspaper we have looked at the footage of the incident and we believe Brett has done nothing wrong and was clearly fouled by Adrian Pellegrino,” Melton said.
“Pellegrino left his leg in a tackle after Brett had moved past him and lashed out, clearly kicking him on the calf.
“Strebre Delovski waited to see if there was advantage and when there wasn-t he can be seen pointing back to the first foul for a free kick.
“It saddens me greatly that Brett-s character has been brought into question. Since his return from the EPL I-m not sure if he has even had a day off as his work in trying to promote the game within the broader community on behalf of SFC has been exhaustive, leading to the FFA recently selecting him as their game wide ‘Community Ambassador-.”
